Phoenix grind out dour win over misfiring Mystics

Phoenix leapt to third place on the Albany Basketball Association women’s A-grade ladder after producing a gritty 11-point win over fellow finals aspirant Mystics in round 13 on Tuesday night.

In a low-scoring affair that never reached any great heights, Phoenix were able to execute better than the defending premiers in offence as they scored their seventh win of the season.

Zania Davey was a constant threat in attack for the winners with her two baskets and two free throws helping Phoenix home in the second half.

Point-guard Kathryn Jennings again played a calming role, settling her side when the game was in the balance, and forward Rachael Goetze produced one of her best games for Phoenix pulling in a number of strong rebounds and forcing a few Mystics turnovers with her defensive pressure.

Mystics led early in the piece courtesy of two long range baskets from Jenna Onions but Phoenix chipped away late in the half to enter the break a single point ahead.

Tracey Cheetham added four points in the second half and her sister Cassandra hit two important free throws that stretched the lead to nine points inside the final five minutes as Phoenix held on for a 25-14 victory.

Davey finished with a game-high 10 points for Phoenix who are still in the hunt for a top two berth. Mystics dropped from third to fifth in the standings after the loss with Onions (6) their most damaging player in attack.

Jorden Tester (1) and Summer Stirling (3) were unusually quiet.

Flames won an entertaining top of the table affair against Great Southern Grammar, 40-26 and in other round results Raiders under-18 development squad beat Magpies by six points and Slayers prevailed over Rebels 30-23.